One-Punch Man's New Arc Confirms Saitama Is The Greatest Shonen Hero

Warning: Contains Spoilers for One-Punch Man Chapters #196 and #197 (JP)

Summary Speed-o'-Sonic's character development shines in the latest redrawn chapters of One-Punch Man, stepping out of Flashy Flash's shadow.

Saitama is the only shonen protagonist that can shine without appearing in his own series, due to the influence he has on the rest of the cast.

Contrasting the original manga, Sonic now takes charge and impresses Flash in the redrawn chapters, signaling a positive shift in his character.

While Saitama is undoubtedly the poster character for One-Punch Man, it would be hard to call him the absolute protagonist, considering how many times he has taken a backseat in his own story, leaving the spotlight to other members of the cast. No other character in One-Punch Man has received such vital changes as Speed-o'-Sound Sonic has in the latest redrawn chapters. Instead of being the long-suffering would-be rival to Saitama, Sonic continues to rise to the occasion and even steps out of Flashy Flash's shadow as an increasingly important character in One-Punch Man.

Speed-o'-Sound Sonic is first introduced in One-Punch Man as an imposing assassin character but quickly becomes the butt of many jokes as the series wears on. One especially memorable instance includes him falling into the temptation to be monsterized, even getting ready to eat a monster cell by cooking it first, only to get disappointing results.

However, with fresh, newly redrawn content spanning the events of One-Punch Man Chapters #196 and #197, Sonic is not just competent; he's a show-stealer when paired with Flash. This highlights an important quality of One-Punch Man. Saitama is often absent from the story, which gives the authors the time and space to develop other characters. Other series, on the contrary, struggle to develop their supporting cast, which often attracts criticism from fans.

Redrawn One-Punch Man Chapters Show Role-Reversal of Major Characters

Even Without Saitama, the Series Moves Forward Thanks to the Development of Other Characters

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In the latest redrawn chapters of One-Punch Man's Ninja Arc, chapters #196-197, Sonic is on more level ground with Flash regarding skill and confidence. This is a significant development for his character, especially after previous redrawn characters doubling down on his growth, motivated by his rivalry with Saitama. It also likely signals more excellent contributions, such as when the redrawn chapters inevitably catch Sonic and Flash up with Empty Void as he appears in Chapters #198-200.

Key moments from the latest One-Punch Man chapters include Sonic actively taking charge despite Flash being an established S-Class Hero. They can stay on even ground and easily fight their ninja opponents, and Sonic even manages to impress Flash with his moxie. In the final panels, Sonic cockily says Flash is not useless and that Sonic would happily take him on as his right hand after taking over the village. Sonic has come a long way, especially considering how the original exchange went.

Flash Outclassed Sonic in the Original One-Punch Man Manga

The Original Chapters Portrayed a Seething Sonic Struggling to Keep Up With Flash

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Contrary to the redrawn chapters, One-Punch Man's original chapter #196 portrayed Sonic as defensive and wanting not to be coddled by Flash's protection. In Chapter #197, Sonic witnesses Flash's blinding speed and angrily processes the difference in their ability while easily giving away his frustration. To further rub salt in the wound, Flash even patronizes Sonic with a "Don't worry, you'll improve." statement, setting Sonic off in the final panel of the chapter.

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This contrast is an excellent example of the expansive contextualization that Murata's One-Punch Man has undergone recently. It also underscores one of the most unique qualities of this successful series. While Saitama is certainly an iconic character and one of the main reasons for One-Punch Man's success, the story is actually rarely about him. This gives the authors the chance to develop even minor characters such as Sonic, thus giving a lot more depth and nuance to the series.